Iguan wins Markham open seat

KONI Iguan was declared MP-elect for  Markham open yesterday after polling 12,337 votes.
His nearest rival was Andrew Baing (6501 votes).
Truckloads of jubilant supporters, including Pangu Pati’s parliamentary leader Sam Basil, converged at the Markham Valley Secondary School hall to congratulate Iguan.
A former Markham MP (2007-2012), Iguan was leading comfortably since the primary counts and declared the winner on the 24th elimination.
“I want to thank the people of Markham for the mandate they have given me for the second time,” Iguan told EMTV.
“I was a former MP and they saw what I had done and they once again gave me the mandate to represent them. I am now ready to work with my people as their servants.”
Markham returning officer Willie Pilailo said the absolute majority was 9081 and Iguan polled well above that mark after Housing Minister Paul Isikiel scored 5430 and was eliminated on the 24th elimination.
Pilailo declared Iguan in front of counting officials, supporters and security personnel.
“Despite the many negative remarks made against us, we have worked tirelessly to ensure the people of Markham have a duly elected MP,” Pilailo said.
Basil told the media that he was pleased with the outcome of the Markham seat and would take Iguan and other Pangu candidates to Goroka in Eastern Highlands where they would meet up with independents to form a new government.
“Koni Iguan is the first-born of Pangu in Morobe,” Basil said.
“We want services to go back to the people of the three LLGs of Markham so we will start delivering services to the people,” he said.